Chapter 252: Retreat a bit

In fact, even if Jiang Fan wanted to retreat, he wouldn't allow it.

Why would he lower himself to compete with someone who has a useless spiritual root? Wasn't it to dampen his arrogance? Wasn't it to show Gong Caiyi how mediocre the person she favored was? Now that it was time for results, he wanted to run? Dream on!

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose and said, "I suggest you concede." Having learned someone else's Earth-grade mid-level technique, and then using that very technique to win against them—that would be a bit like bullying.

However, to others, these words sounded like he was backing down.

Ming Youlian couldn't help but smile, turning to Gong Caiyi. "Sect Master Gong, you just said our Heavenly Sound Sect was inviting humiliation. I never understood what you meant. Now I do. For my Heavenly Sound Sect's esteemed Chief Disciple to be compared to a coward who only talks tough but backs down when confronted—it truly is an insult to his status."

Yuan Zhiyu wanted to defend Jiang Fan. If Jiang Fan had given up from the start, she could have questioned the fairness of the competition method and used that to excuse him. But now, after two hours of comprehension, for him to back down at this moment was completely inexcusable. The few people outside the hall were also a bit puzzled. Why was Jiang Fan only thinking of giving up now? Wasn't it too late?

Fu Chaojun sneered inwardly. He actually wanted to retreat? You spoke harsh words, and now that it's time for you to be humiliated, you want to run?

He smiled gently. "Junior Brother Jiang, it's just a regular exchange. Winning or losing isn't important. Why care so much? Just do your best. Whatever you comprehend is fine. I won't laugh at you."

Jiang Fan plucked a string and mused, "You go first." He wanted to see the difference between what Fu Chaojun would demonstrate and what he himself would. Even if there were differences in the same musical score technique, they shouldn't be too significant, right?

"No problem." Fu Chaojun readily agreed. He sneered inwardly; Jiang Fan was now only resorting to delaying tactics. But under everyone's watchful eyes, could he really delay this predicament?

He immediately sat cross-legged, placing the guzheng across his knees, calming his mind and adjusting his state. His entire being quickly became serene, like a pond touched by a spring breeze, not a ripple stirred.

But, the next moment.

*Zheng zheng—*

As his fingers swiftly swept across the strings, two sharp, intense notes, like cold blades drawn in the dark night, pierced the soul! Completely unprepared, everyone's heart skipped a beat. Immediately after, the music grew more urgent! An oppressive sensation, like ten thousand cavalry iron hooves shattering a frozen river, surged forth.

When the music reached its climax of urgency, the notes suddenly shifted. Dull, resonant notes, like clashing blades, reverberated. Before everyone's eyes, a magnificent scene seemed to appear: smoke signals filling the sky, a vast army with war blades, battling in a bloody slaughter across a thousand-mile plain! The grandeur and surging power of being immersed in it stirred the listeners' blood. It felt as if they were truly there!

*Dong—*

But just then, Fu Chaojun pressed his five fingers down on the strings. All sounds in heaven and earth ceased, and the various images instantly vanished.

Yuan Zhiyu abruptly snapped back to reality, her breathing still rapid. Only after taking several deep breaths did she somewhat calm down. A gust of wind blew, and she realized her back was drenched in sweat.

"Such profound zither music; it completely guided my emotions." She felt a wave of secret apprehension. If she were to hear such music during battle, could she still remain calm and face her enemy?

However, what was even more frightening was that her pupils contracted as she noticed the incredibly smooth granite floor of the main hall. At some unknown point, faint scratches had appeared. This made her gasp and cover her lips: "These are..."

Gong Caiyi nodded slightly in approval. "As expected of a genius from the Heavenly Sound Sect. The zither sounds transform into swords, harming enemies invisibly. Few elders in the Heavenly Sound Sect can achieve this level." Although she didn't particularly like this person, she couldn't deny that he possessed a talent for music that surpassed all nine sects.

Yi Lianxing and the others outside the hall were also deeply shaken. They were even more astonished, especially when staring at the scratches carved by the zither's sounds. If Fu Chaojun were their enemy, they would likely have been cut to shreds by the music.

Chu Xingmeng took a deep breath, unable to help but worry deeply: "Senior Brother Jiang, it will probably be very difficult to win."

Qin Caihe sighed faintly. "This time, Junior Brother Jiang truly underestimated Fu Chaojun. How could a proud talent who could become a legend of his generation not possess some true skill?"

Such astonishing mastery had already convinced everyone present. There was no longer any expectation for Jiang Fan.

Ming Youlian said triumphantly, "Sect Master Gong, you underestimated Chaojun. Only he has been able to unleash such power from this 'Formation-Breaking Diagram' so far. Even the Sect Master is not half as capable as him."

"Is that so?" Even Gong Caiyi couldn't help but feel uneasy. Could Jiang Fan win? Although she highly recognized Jiang Fan's comprehension ability, Fu Chaojun was truly no simple character. Especially his mastery of the 'Formation-Breaking Diagram,' which was already unparalleled among the Nine Sects. Even if Jiang Fan's comprehension was defying heaven, it would be difficult for him to surpass this, right?

She consoled him, "Jiang Fan, just do your best. This is your first time encountering a musical path technique, and your first exposure is to the 'Formation-Breaking Diagram,' which is renowned for its difficulty. Even if you're not as good as Fu Chaojun, there's no shame in it." Even before it began, she was already giving Jiang Fan an out. It was clear she had very little confidence in Jiang Fan.

Fu Chaojun secretly smiled. "Didn't you favor Jiang Fan so much? Didn't you say I was inviting humiliation? Why are you now finding excuses for his failure? Unfortunately, mediocrity is mediocrity. No excuse will work!"

Holding the guzheng, he said with confidence, "Junior Brother Jiang, just do your best. As Sect Master Gong said, losing to me is perfectly normal."

Jiang Fan slowly nodded. He now had an understanding of the power of Fu Chaojun's 'Formation-Breaking Diagram.' He just didn't know how the other technique he had comprehended from the 'Formation-Breaking Diagram' would compare in terms of power.

"Alright, I'll begin." Jiang Fan placed the seven-stringed zither across his knees and warned: "Please, everyone, stay a bit further away from me, to avoid any accidents."

Yuan Zhiyu was puzzled. Accident? It's just playing a zither. Even if he reached Fu Chaojun's level, it would be difficult to harm anyone present, right? Still, she obediently moved away from Jiang Fan, coming to Gong Caiyi's side. She whispered, "Master, what does Junior Brother Jiang mean?"

Even Gong Caiyi couldn't quite figure out what he intended. She mused, "Let's see."

Ming Youlian, however, couldn't help but chuckle, "Are you worried your music will hurt someone? Don't worry, you don't have that level of skill yet."

Fu Chaojun was also dismissive, maintaining his seated position opposite Jiang Fan. He smiled: "If you can harm me, that truly would be a feat. I certainly won't blame you. Begin your performance!"

"Alright!" Since the opponent had said so, Jiang Fan no longer held back. Channeling his spiritual power, he began to play the 'Formation-Breaking Diagram.'

Unlike the score Fu Chaojun saw, Jiang Fan had comprehended the musical score of the 'Tiger Roar Dragon Chant Technique.' Therefore, the moment he pressed down on the strings, it wasn't the oppressive sensation of iron horses crossing a frozen river. Instead, it was the scalp-tingling sensation of a fierce tiger suddenly roaring beside one's ear!

Including Gong Caiyi, every single person, completely unprepared, shivered with fright! Their hearts pounded wildly.